Backyard Dinner Date Night

I know I sound like a broken record, but this is our busiest summer yet. Somehow, it’s even busier than last summer planning our own wedding – not sure how that happened! Raja and I have come to cherish our time at home these last few months and have been doing our best to make the most of our summer nights. While we normally like to take advantage of some of the best CT restaurants that are just minutes from our house in West Hartford, after so much travel this summer, we’ve been cooking and grilling at home every chance we get.

I planned this little backyard dinner date night last week using my American Express Blue Cash Everyday card knowing that I’d get 3% back on all the yummy food I purchased from my grocery store, and 1% off on all my decor – it pays to entertain at home!

The summer heat is in full-force, so anytime we end up eating outside, we like to keep things light and simple. We’re both fans of picking and trying different foods, so I planned this cheese and wine menu (champagne counts, right?!) – plus, some of our favorite Mediterranean snacks including chickpea and lentil salad, hummus (with toasted pine nuts), and olives and feta.

For a touch of DIY, and some pretty lights for when the sun drops, I was inspired by these Buzzfeed videos for making entertaining at home a little more epic. I love these pretty copper string lights and I used mason jars (instead of bottles like in the video), and love how they added a little sparkle to our outdoor set-up. We added some wood to the fire pit, turned on our twinkle lights, and enjoyed a special summer night at home.
What’s your favorite way to entertain during the summer? Leave me a comment and let me know!